Advisories & News
Press Release
PCG TORONTO ATTENDS THE 1ST FILIPINO MIGRANT WORKERS’ CONVENTION IN TORONTO, ONTARIO
2019-11-08
05 November 2019 – Consul General Orontes Castro and other PCG Toronto officials attended the 1st Migrant Workers’ Convention in Toronto City, Ontario on 3 November 2019. It was organized by POLO Toronto in collaboration with several settlement organizations in the Greater Toronto Area. The convention featured various services that Filipino overseas workers and their families can avail of and the migrant workers were also given the opportunity to interact with representatives of Philippine government agencies, Filipino organizations, settlement organizations and academic institutions through booths set up at the venue.
Consul General Castro, in his speech, stated that President Rodrigo Duterte acknowledges the significant role of Filipino overseas workers in the Philippines’ economic growth and development and that the President has directed concerned Philippine agencies to provide services to these workers. Congen Castro thanked the participating workers, their families and the agencies and organizations from both the Philippines and Canada for their participation in the convention and encouraged workers to understand their workplace rights and responsibilities as described by invited speakers. He also enjoined them to avail of the services provided during the event.
Deputy Minister David Corbett of the Ontario Ministry of Labor, Training and Skills Development discussed the functions of the Ministry regarding employment standards, occupational health and safety and labor relations, among others. Recently, the ministry’s mandate was expanded to include skills training and regulation of apprenticeship in companies. He pointed out that the Ontario government is working to ensure that workers in the province, especially the most vulnerable, are protected and treated fairly by their employers. He also cited the Employment Protection for Foreign Nationals Act in Ontario which applies to foreign nationals working or looking for work in the province. When asked about a worker who died while working at Fiera Foods, Minister Corbett replied that the incident is currently being investigated.
Other invited speakers covered issues affecting migrant workers. Marina Ralph, a registered psychotherapist in Ontario, discussed the Filipino diaspora in Canada, including their experiences in relation to family reunification, and the challenges that Filipino migrant workers and their families faced. She then provided some practical strategies on strengthening relations among Filipino migrant families in Ontario. Senior Trade Commissioner Ma. Roseni Alvero, of the Trade Office Section, talked about entrepreneurship and livelihood in the Philippines for Overseas Filipinos. Professor Philip Kelly of York University covered the experiences Filipino migrant workers in Ontario, particularly caregivers, and the challenges they faced. Connie Manzo of the Catholic Community Services of the York Region talked about the importance and the process involved in having the migrant workers’ credentials recognized in Ontario.
During the convention, POLO Toronto and TV Natin officials also signed a partnership to serve Overseas Filipinos.
